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Sunday, August 13, 2017

Victim And Suspect Identified In Apparent Attempted Murder-Suicide In Wicomico County

(WILLARDS, MD) — Maryland State Police have identified the victim and suspect in an apparent attempted murder and suicide last night in Wicomico County

The victim is identified as Blair C. Ranneberger, 65, of Willards, Md. He remains a patient at Peninsula Regional Medical Center, where he is being treated for multiple gunshot wounds

The suspect is identified as Evan J. Gottlieb, 25, of Berlin, Md. Gottlieb was found deceased in the victim’s stolen vehicle from what appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. An autopsy will be conducted at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore.

At about 7:14 p.m. yesterday, Maryland State Police at the Salisbury Barrack responded to a call for a shooting at a residence in the 36000-block of Sheppards Crossing Rd., Willards, Md. Responding troopers found Ranneberger suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. He was transported by ambulance to the hospital.

As troopers were responding to the Ranneberger home, another call was received about a vehicle submerged in water a short distance away in the 34000-block of Tingle Road. Police responded to that scene and a tow truck was used to pull the vehicle from the water.

The body of a man, later identified as Gottlieb, was found inside the vehicle. Gottlieb had sustained an apparent gunshot wound and was pronounced dead at the scene. A handgun was found with him in the vehicle. The vehicle was identified as the pickup truck stolen from the Ranneberger’s home.

At this time, the investigation indicates Ranneberger and his wife were inside their home when they saw Gottlieb pull into their driveway in a Volkswagen Jetta, later found to be registered to the suspect. Gottlieb knocked on the front door of the home and both Ranneberger and his wife responded. Gottlieb, armed with a handgun, reportedly demanded the keys to Ranneberger’s Ford F150 pickup parked outside and said the police were after him. Gottlieb was told the keys were in the truck. He then reportedly shot Ranneberger multiple times and pointed the gun at the victim’s wife before fleeing the scene in the victim’s pickup.

Maryland State Police Criminal Enforcement Division investigators determined the victims and suspect did not know each other. There is no motive known at this time for the suspect’s actions. There is no information from any regional police departments indicating they were searching for Gottlieb or in ‘pursuit’ of him for any reason.

The Wicomico County State’s Attorney’s Office was notified and an official from that office responded to the scene. Assistance has also been provided by the Maryland State Police Homicide Unit and the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office.

Evan Gottlieb is a good person. This has to be a frame or a cover up. There is no way he could have ever done to this to someone innocent. This entire story is a tragedy and the loss of Evan has impacted many people's hearts and all are lost as to why he would do something like this. This sounds like he was framed. I hope the victim recovers well.

Absolutely. These pieces don't come together. I know evan personally and friends with a group of people who have worked with him and are very close with him. If this is true, he had to be forced Upon him. This just can't be true

Anonymous Anonymous said...We live at the end of a dead end road. If you are not known to us, you will be greeted with a loaded firearm.

August 13, 2017 at 10:58 AM

and you would be arrested as you should. nothing wrong with having a firearm or protecting yours and what's yours, as well as your neighbor, but you don't "greet" anyone with a firearm unless you are planning to shoot them. The first rule of firearm safety is never point a firearm at anything you are not prepared to shoot.

Someone lost or just going for a ride does not deserve to be "greeted" in such a fashion. People with attitudes and words like yours is what scares people and call for even more gun laws, which we don't need.

There is also a case proceeding to the Supreme Court, which will probably take some years to get there, to challenge ALL federal gun laws and their constitutionality which I hope they find that ALL federal gun laws ARE unconstitutional and void.

I guess his wife will be able to identify the shooter. He went to their door knocking and demanding the keys. When "the victim" told him the keys were in the truck, "the victim" was shot at close range four times. If it wasn't intentional, then why did the shooter have a gun in his possession. The victim did not deserve this.

2:45 There are two sets of no trespassing signs. I can open carry anywhere on my farm as I have enough land to be zone agricultural. Never said anything about pointing a weapon at anyone but it will be in my hand. I've greet DNR the same way. They didn't have a warrant or exigent circumstance to be on my land. There is no getting lost on a clearly marked and posted private road.

I also know Evan. He was a good and kind-hearted individual. I don't believe he would have EVER sought out an innocent person to victimize or kill. This had to be someone he knew or was told to go after. I do question whether he silently suffered from paranoia, schizophrenia or both. Now I'm also questioning if he got involved in drugs/heroine.

What a tragedy! The victim has worked all his life, finally retires (as does his wife) and they can't even feel safe in a home they have worked and paid for! This man now has months or longer to recover from injuries he didn't deserve in the first place. He was not out on the streets of crime-ridden Salisbury, he was in HIS home! Regardless of the reason Evan did this, he is NOT a victim here! He CHOSE to rob, carjack, and attempt to murder someone innocent. I pray this family recovers quickly!

Wicomico county is as bad as Salisbury. I've had 2 different houses broken into 20 minutes from Salisbury. Both times it was drug addicts looking for items to pawn for drug money. Police did very little. I had to track down my stolen items at various pawn shops. Stet dockets, but their identities now known.

Was it a gun in his possession that he used to shoot an innocent man? That to me is obvious. No conspiracy, no being framed, just an innocent man in his home, that was unjustly attacked by an assailant. That is the obvious.

Its sad that this eastern shore is nothing but dope and all kinds of other drugs obviously the dude was wrapped up in this shit I do know for a fact and that sadly their is way more to the story than any of yal will ever hear from these so called authorities...either way nonOne deserves to die or take their own life my heart goes out way deep to the fam and friends

Both of you are idiots. They identified him, they did not know each other, he did the right thing and killed himself because he thought he just murdered an innocent person. End of story. Nothing else to see here.

It doesn't matter how awesome of a person he was. He thought he killed someone so he took his own life. All the good he did or how nice of a person his friends are saying he is is now erased because he is a cold blooded killer. Glad the Victim survived.

Settle down Jim Bob....we all know how tough you are and we are all scared. In fact, I don't even LOOK towards your property because I know how bad azz you are. You don't have to talk tough to us. We KNOW how tough you are. YOU are the ONLY thing that puts fear in Chuck Norris!!!

Evan was a great guy!!!!! he had a problem with drugs. doesn't EVERYONE have problems??? i would say yes, he was a friend of mine. a good friend. he waa upset about everything and gave up. Rest in peace my brother and I hope the victims recover.